"…the nuts to me are the bodies draperie, where as the ass is like the coffee table. I can put a cigarette out on my ass and it'd be okay…"

LOL…don't ask. Really, just, DON'T ASK. 96X rocks…

~

       Vegeta awakened mere hours later, very groggy and dazed, but overall doing better. He looked around in a confused manner, wondering silently why he wasn't seeing yellow clouds and a long white road. Or hell, at least. Why was he still in Capsule Corp? Why was she still here, part of the reason he'd been bent on escaping his hell of a life. Why wouldn't they let him go. She was bent over him, speaking worried tones that he failed to understand.

       Her eyes were full of pity, and he was filled with loathing. He had been so cowardly, and taken the coward's way out. He could of at least just blown up the planet and taken someone with him. At least then there would be no room for error…he wouldn't still be here facing his humiliation. For such a pathetic race, the humans had more than laid him low…why couldn't he just die, as he should have done over a year ago? He did die over a year ago, but the humans wished him back only to belittle him more.

       He was nothing.

       Less than nothing.

       He noticed the throbbing pain searing his head, and he gingerly brought his hands to his aching skull. Now gripping a cool cloth, Bulma attempted to place it on his forehead. He violently swatted at her hand, hearing a low growl emerging from his throat. The rag flew from her hand at the impact, and she woundedly clutched the appendage to her chest. Only now did the Saiyan notice the doctor, who was presently examining the woman's frail hand tenderly.

       Too tenderly.

       Alarms sounded distantly in Vegeta's head, and he glared hatred at the man. Pulling various medical instruments free of their attachment to his skin, the smaller man painfully sat up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and standing on shaky legs. White-hot agony shot through his body, and he winced, refusing to pass out from the nervous overload. He took a small step towards the two, and stopped, not allowing them to know he couldn't take another step.

       "Get the fuck away from her," he ground out, not liking how his voice broke. He glared at the doctor, who bravely (or stupidly) didn't back down and returned his harsh look.

       "She doesn't belong to you Vegeta. Maybe you should lay—"

       "SHUT UP!" the prince shouted.

       "Why should he shut up? He's right! And he's correct in advising you to lay down. You're not well Vegeta, you know that." Bulma snapped fiercely.

       "Stop saying that! You know nothing! You ARE mine, whether we like it or not. Just as I am…I am…yours." His voice was pained, more pained than she had ever heard it. She gave him a confused look, relenting somewhat.

       "Do explain…" she remarked, mostly to herself.

       "Not with him here, he is not part of this," Vegeta pointed an accusing finger at Seth, who was visibly displeased with his patient.

       "I'll go if you lay back down…" The Saiyan sneered in response to the weaker man and extended his open hand, palm towards the doctor. A glow appeared around his hand and formed into a small ball of light.

       "Don't push your luck, bastard. When someone gives you the chance to let you leave with all your limbs, it's wise to take it..."

       "The thanks I get for saving your damn life—" Vegeta growled audibly, the ball of ki in his hand increasing in power.

       "You think I'm thankful for that?!"

       "Alright alright! I'm gone already!" He left in a huff. "Dumb fuck," Vegeta muttered to the retreating man's back. The door slid shut, and Vegeta stepped back to half sit on the bed, barely restraining a deep sigh of relief.

       "Vegeta, we need to talk about this…"

       "There's nothing to say. You pulled a damn hero act and stopped me…" He muttered, staring hard at the floor. "There is nothing for me here…nothing."

       "What are you saying?! There's plenty for you here! There's…there's…well, we need your help with the androids!" She said sheepishly, her speech losing momentum as she spoke. 'Gods Bulma, open mouth, insert foot' she thought, humiliated.

       "Why Bulma, you've given me new purpose. I now have a reason to go on. I'll train to destroy the androids that threaten the very planet I tried to destroy! Absolutely brilliant…" he muttered venomously, and she blushed bright red.

       "I sucked in public speaking—"

       "It's the private speaking you need help with, wench." Her blue eyes flashed with renewed anger.

       "Quit calling me wench! It's degrading, and unfitting for a prince to speak so of the wealthiest woman on this planet."

       "That's saying a lot…" Vegeta murmured.

       "I heard that!"

       "That would be why I said it. Had I not wanted you to hear, I might have kept my mouth shut."

       "Enough! Can we be serious for one fucking moment?! At least while we discuss a serious matter? You've got a seroius problem here Vegeta. For whatever reason, you just tried to kill yourself, and I want to know what's got you so damn depressed! So you're not a Super Saiyan. So you don't have a girlfriend. So we accidentally had sex the other night whilst intoxicated! Shit happens Vegeta, you of all people should know that…" He glared at the floor, a faint blush tinging pale cheeks.

       "You still don't know the full implications of that night—"

       "Neither do you," Bulma shot back, arms crossed and foot tapping dangerously.

       "Well, do enlighten me…" He sneered, still not meeting her gaze.     

       "I want to know what in all eight hells makes you think that one night of drunken fucking makes me yours! There was no emotional involvement, no mutual attraction…we were smashed and things got hot. It happens Vegeta! Quit worrying about it! And quit telling me I don't understand, 'cause I'm pretty damn sure that I understand my side of this! Just because I'm pregnant with your child (which has yet to be proven) doesn't mean you and I have to be involved together. You do your part, I'll do mine and mmph—" A hand clamped roughly over her mouth, ending her tirade.

       "You're what?" She glared at him over his hand, and he released her, glaring in return.

       "Goku was here earlier…" Vegta grunted in annoyance, but Bulma ignored him and continued. "He said he could sense another energy signature within me…he assumed I was pregnant. I would take a pregnancy test, but it's too early for those to work, so we'll just have to wait…" Vegeta roughly placed his hand on her belly, ignoring her protesting yelp. His eyes took on a faraway look, before narrowing angrily. She squirmed uncomfortably, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks.

       "Damn fool was right…no human child would be that strong so early." She rolled her eyes.

       "Not to mention I've never done it with anyone else! There's no doubt the child is yours…Gods, we're really fucked up, aren't we?"

       "Beyond fucked up, but you still don't understand everything…"

       "Would you quit saying that and explain it to me?! Why are we attached? I don't want to be with you like that…"

       "We have no choice now. Saiyans arre a slightly telepathic species, although empathy tends to be stronger. Although many Saiyans pursued relationships with the opposite sex, very few risked the dangers to their sanity that bonding presents…"

       "Bonding? And what do you mean, danger to their sanity?"

       "A couple would consumate their relationship with a ritual ceremony involving their first time having sex. The ceremony is private, obviously. But…it creates an empathic bond between the two individuals, breakable only by death." She stared at him.

       "Vegeta, that has to be the biggest load of shit I've ever heard. The Saiyan race revolved around nothing but violence, which almost always bleeds over into sex. And now you're trying to tell me that only those Saiyans that wished to have a mate for life had sex? It's utterly preposterous! Second of all, I'm not Saiyan, so this shouldn't affect what happened between us! I have no telepathic awareness of you, we're not bonded!"

       Vegeta's hand twitched as he resisted the strong urge to slap her.

       "Fine. You like that damn doctor, right? You were attracted to him? I want you to go seduce him, and tell me what happens. Consider it an experiment, to see if this bond is real between us. You want answers now? Go get them, I could tell he was turned on to you." The Saiyan grated, trying for all his worth to sound confident when he was quivering with fear inside. This could have permanent effects on his mental and emotional health if things didn't go exactly as expected.

       "I will! Either way, I lose nothing. I could never pass up the chance to prove you wrong… Now go to sleep, I'll wake you when I get back."

       "I'm not tired." She rolled her eyes.

       "And I'm not pregnant. Lay down, asswipe." He grunted in surprise as she easily pushed him back onto the bed and pulled a sheet over his boxer-clad form. "See you on the flipside…" She called to him over her shoulder as she left the room, her hips swaying enticingly in anticipation.

       Striding down the long hallways of Capsule Corporation, Bulma didn't allow herself to feel the trepidation pounding through her veins. What if Vegeta was right? She questioned herself, trying to justify all the doubts that entered her mind. What heinous thing would happen to her? Why the hell was he asking her to do this, after he claimed she was his. No. No way in hell would that man claim her after just one night, especially considering the circumstances.

       Reaching the door to Seth's apartment, Bulma silently collected herself before ringing the door chime. There was a short wait, and she was on the verge of leaving when the door swished open, revealing a shirtless Dr. Ralker. His eyebrows raised as he gazed at her.

       "Bulma," was all he managed to say before she leaned forward, planting a palm on each side of his chest and pressing her lips to his.

~

    Heehee, evil cliffhanger! Don't worry, I'm not overlooking Vegeta's self-destructive act, it simply didn't have a good place to be brought up in this chapter.

    So, what's gonna happen to Bulma? How will this affect our dear Veggie-head? Find out all this and more, in the next episode of…aw nevermind. I'll shut up now. x_x

    I get to see Lifehouse in concert tomorrow night! My first concert! Well, my first secular concert. Damn parents. I'm going with an adult too, even though I've got my license and my own vehicle. Aw well, he's cool. Lifehouse!!! The first cd I bought was their No Name Face. They totally rock. *gives thumbs up*